lever

Classes of Levers

Class 1 levers have force applied on the opposite side of the fulcrum, or pivot point. On a see-saw, the farther away from the fulcrum you sit, the bigger the force you can produce. This is why it is easier to use a tool with a long handle. Scissors and pliers are examples of class 1 levers.

Class 2 levers have the fulcrum at one end, like wheelbarrows, nail clippers, and nutcrackers.

Class 3 levers also have the fulcrum at the end, but you exert force in the center and the higher force is produced at the tips, as in tweezers and tongs.

An example of a lever is a stick shift in a car with a manual transmission.

Examples of lever are pliers, scissors, see-saws, wheelbarrows, and tongs.

Lever is defined as a means to get something.

An example of a lever is a family connection which might be used to get admitted to a school.

Lever means a tool, usually a bar, used to lift or pry open something.

An example of a lever is a crowbar.

lever

a bar used as a pry

a means to an end

Mech. a device consisting of a bar turning about a fixed point, the fulcrum, using power or force applied at a second point to lift or sustain a weight at a third point; hence, any handle or the like used to operate something

Origin of lever

Old French leveour ; from lever, to raise ; from Classical Latin levare ; from levis, light: see light

to move, lift, etc. with or as with a lever

to use as a lever

lever

noun

A simple machine consisting of a rigid bar pivoted on a fixed point and used to transmit force, as in raising or moving a weight at one end by pushing down on the other.

A projecting handle used to adjust or operate a mechanism.

A means of accomplishing; a tool: used friendship as a lever to obtain advancement.

transitive verb

lev·ered, lev·er·ing, lev·ers

To move or lift with a lever: levered up the manhole cover.

To move (oneself, for example) in a manner resembling the use of a lever: “[He] levered himself out the window all the way to his waist”(Stephen King).

To fund at least in part with borrowed money; leverage.

Origin of lever

Middle English, from Old French levier, from lever, to raise, from Latin levare, from levis, light; see legwh- in Indo-European roots.

lever

diagram of the three types of levers, showing fulcrum, direction of effort, and direction of force of the load (or resistance)

top: a crowbar

center: a wheelbarrow

bottom: a shovel

lever

Noun

(plural levers)

(mechanics) A rigid piece which is capable of turning about one point, or axis (the fulcrum), and in which are two or more other points where forces are applied; "” used for transmitting and modifying force and motion.

Specifically, a bar of metal, wood or other rigid substance, used to exert a pressure, or sustain a weight, at one point of its length, by receiving a force or power at a second, and turning at a third on a fixed point called a fulcrum. It is usually named as the first of the six mechanical powers, and is of three kinds, according as either the fulcrum F, the weight W, or the power P, respectively, is situated between the other two, as in the figures.

A small such piece to trigger or control a mechanical device (like a button).

(mechanics) A bar, as a capstan bar, applied to a rotatory piece to turn it.

(mechanics) An arm on a rock shaft, to give motion to the shaft or to obtain motion from it.

From Old French leveor, leveur (“a lifter, lever (also Old French and French levier)"), from Latinlevator (“a lifter"), from levare, past part. levatus (“to raise"); see levant. Compare alleviate, elevate, leaven.

Adverb

(not comparable)

1537, William Tyndale et al, "Jonah", in The Byble

Now therefore take my life from me, for I had lever die then live.

1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faery Queene

For lever had I die than see his deadly face.

Origin

From Middle English comparative of leve (“dear") of Germanic origin (compare German lieb) or lief.